Is there anything better than the sun shining on your face and a cool breeze tickling your skin on a warm day? However, as we age, we often spend less and less time outside, despite the fact that the mental and physical benefits remain just as—if not more—important to our overall health and happiness. For seniors, a decrease in mobility and independence can lead to a sharp decline in outdoor time during a stage in their life when they need it the most. So what can we do to help them stay active?
Whether you’re participating in activities together or you’re sending them ideas, this list of senior-friendly outdoor adventures can help your loved ones stay active and healthy. They are also great intergenerational activities that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
1. Walk the neighborhood: The gold standard is also the easiest since it’s right outside your door. Just set expectations for how far you’ll go before you leave home. Bonus: make it social by chatting with neighbors, or going with a friend or family member.
2. Walk together — virtually: Do your parents look forward to seeing their grandkids on screen? Take your video chats mobile and kick them up a notch. Go for a walk “together” and choose something for everyone to look for — trees, leaves, flowers, and buildings. Whenever anyone finds something new, stop and show each other via video.
3. Gardening: Gardening is one of the most popular activities for seniors. This light aerobic activity is a great way to stay active, maintain strength, and improve mobility, and is easy to incorporate into a daily routine.
4. Explore the woods: Off-road rail trails have been popping up like daisies, many of them flat and paved (even through the woods!) to accommodate bikes, feet, and even wheelchairs. Plus, they’re often broken up in small chunks — some as short as a quarter mile — which can be less intimidating for those with mobility limitations.
5. Visit the mountains: A surprising number of mountains have driving paths that get you all the way up to the top for maximum vista with minimum (actually zero) sweat. Some will have benches for enjoying the view, but consider bringing a couple of portable chairs just in case.
6. Bird watching: This is a great activity for seniors who enjoy connecting with nature. It is very soothing and therapeutic and a great way to calm the mind and allow for reflection.
7. Picnic: Whether it be a well-prepared meal, a healthy snack or a simple sandwich, picnics are great to get fresh air and your daily dose of Vitamin D. Seniors can enjoy some relaxing time in the park or arrange games with their friends.
8. Outdoor cultural events: Many local organizations put on music events, outdoor plays or arts and crafts shows. These are great intergenerational events to attend with the whole family.
Last but not least, not every step outdoors has to be a bona fide adventure. As Dorothy Gale famously said, sometimes everything you need is right in your own backyard.
